81 FR 10232 - Applications for New Awards; Indian Education Discretionary Grants Programs-Demonstration Grants for Indian Children Program

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 39 (February 29, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 39 (Monday, February 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10232-10239]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04260]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Indian Education Discretionary 
Grants Programs--Demonstration Grants for Indian Children Program

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information Indian Education Discretionary Grants 
Programs--Demonstration Grants for Indian Children Program Notice 
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2016.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.299A.

    Dates: Applications Available: February 29, 2016.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: April 29, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 31, 2016.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 28, 2016.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Demonstration Grants for 
Indian Children program is to provide financial assistance to projects 
that develop, test, and demonstrate the effectiveness of services and 
programs to improve the educational opportunities and achievement of 
preschool, elementary, and secondary Indian students.
    Background: For FY 2016, the Department will continue to use the 
priority for Native Youth Community Projects (NYCP) first used in FY 
2015 to support community-led, comprehensive projects to help American 
Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children become college- and career-ready. 
NYCP funding is one of many efforts across the Federal government to 
coordinate, measure progress, and make investments in Native youth 
programs as part of the Generation Indigenous Initiative. These efforts 
aim to address educational outcomes, access to the internet, the 
availability of teacher housing, Indian Child Welfare Act 
implementation, tribal criminal justice, and the suicide rate. The 
Department intends to award several NYCP grants for communities to 
improve educational outcomes, specifically college- and career-
readiness, through strategies tailored to address the specific 
challenges and build upon the specific opportunities and culture within 
a community. Due to increased funding for FY 2016, the Department 
expects to support more comprehensive projects that implement multiple 
strategies. Given the interconnectedness of in-school and out-of-school 
factors that relate to student achievement and positive youth 
development, grants will support a community-led approach to providing 
academic, social-emotional, cultural, and other support services for 
AI/AN students and students' family members. Recognizing the importance 
of tribes to the education of Native youth, NYCP projects are based on 
a partnership that includes at least one tribe and one school district 
or BIE-funded school. We expect that this partnership will facilitate 
capacity building within the community, generating positive results and 
practices for student college- and career-readiness beyond the period 
of Federal financial assistance. The requirement of a written 
partnership agreement helps to ensure that all relevant partners needed 
to achieve the project goals are included from the outset. Finally, 
grantees' project evaluations should help inform future practices that 
effectively improve outcomes for AI/AN youth.
    Priorities: This competition contains one absolute priority and 
three competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priority is from the regulations at 34 
CFR 263.21(c)(1) and 263.20. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(ii), competitive preference priority one is from Sec.  
263.21(c)(5) of the regulations, competitive preference priority two is 
from Sec.  263.21(b) of the regulations, and competitive preference 
priority three paragraph (b) is from Sec.  263.21(c)(2) of the 
regulations. Competitive preference priority three paragraph (a) 
(relating to Promise Zones) is from the notice of final priority 
published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2014 (79 FR 17035).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2016 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Native Youth Community Projects. A native youth community project 
is--
    (1) Focused on a defined local geographic area to be served by the 
project;
    (2) Centered on the goal of ensuring that Indian students are 
prepared for college and careers;
    (3) Informed by evidence, which could be either a needs assessment 
conducted within the last three years or other data analysis, on--
    (i) The greatest barriers, both in and out of school, to the 
readiness of local Indian students for college and careers;
    (ii) Opportunities in the local community to support Indian 
students; and
    (iii) Existing local policies, programs, practices, service 
providers, and funding sources;
    (4) Focused on one or more barriers or opportunities with a 
community-based strategy or strategies and measurable objectives;

[[Page 10233]]

    (5) Designed and implemented through a partnership of various 
entities, which--
    (i) Must include--
    (A) One or more tribes or their tribal education agencies; and
    (B) One or more Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian 
Education (BIE)-funded schools, one or more local educational agencies 
(LEAs), or both; and
    (ii) May include other optional entities, including community-based 
organizations, national nonprofit organizations, and Alaska regional 
corporations; and
    (6) Led by an entity that--
    (i) Is eligible for a grant under the Demonstration Grants for 
Indian Children program; and
    (ii) Demonstrates, or partners with an entity that demonstrates, 
the capacity to improve outcomes that are relevant to the project focus 
through experience with programs funded through other sources.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2016 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from 
this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to an additional 
10 points to an application, depending on how well the application 
meets one or more of these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority One. We award two points to an 
application proposing to serve a rural local community. To meet this 
priority, a project must include an LEA that is eligible under the 
Small Rural School Achievement (SRSA) or Rural and Low-Income School 
(RLIS) program, or a BIE-funded school that is located in an area 
designated by the U.S. Census Bureau with a locale code of 42 or 43.
    Competitive Preference Priority Two. Although all NYCP grantees are 
required to have an eligible Indian tribe or its tribal education 
agency (TEA) as a partner, we award four points to an application in 
which the lead partner is an eligible Indian tribe or its TEA, an 
Indian organization, or an Indian Institution of Higher Education 
(IHE). See the definition of Indian IHE listed under Eligibility 
Information in section III of this notice.
    Competitive Preference Priority Three. We award four points to an 
application that meets one of the following criteria--
    (a) Designed to serve a local community within a federally 
designated Promise Zone; or
    (b) Submitted by a partnership or consortium in which the lead 
applicant or one of its partners has received a grant in the last four 
years under one or more of the following grant or enhancement programs:
    (1) State Tribal Education Partnership (title VII, part A, subpart 
3).
    (2) Sovereignty in Indian Education Enhancements (Department of the 
Interior).
    (3) Alaska Native Education Program (title VII, part C).
    (4) Promise Neighborhoods.
    (5) Tribal Education Department Grants (Department of the 
Interior).

    Note: As a participant in the Administration's Promise Zone 
Initiative, the Department is cooperating with the Departments of 
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and, the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) and nine other Federal agencies to support 
comprehensive revitalization efforts in 20 high-poverty urban, 
rural, and tribal communities across the country. Each application 
for NYCP funds that is accompanied by a Certification of Consistency 
with Promise Zone Goals and Implementation (HUD Form 50153) signed 
by an authorized representative of the lead organization of a 
Promise Zone designated by HUD or USDA supporting the application 
will receive four points, under Competitive Preference Priority 
3(a). An application for NYCP grant funds that is not accompanied by 
a signed certification (HUD Form 50153) will not receive points 
under Competitive Preference Priority 3(a), but may still be 
eligible to receive points under Competitive Preference Priority 
3(b) if it received one of the grants listed. To view the list of 
designated Promise Zones and lead organizations please go to 
www.hud.gov/promisezones. The certification form is available at //
portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=HUD_Form_50153.pdf.


    Note: An application will not receive points for both (a) and 
(b).

    Application Requirements: The following requirements apply to all 
applications submitted under this competition and are from 34 CFR 
263.20, 263.21, and 263.22. An applicant must include in its 
application:
    (a) A description of the defined geographic area to be served by 
the project.
    (b) Evidence, based on either a needs assessment conducted within 
the last three years or other data analysis, of--
    (1) The greatest barriers, both in and out of school, to the 
readiness of local Indian students for college and careers;
    (2) Opportunities in the local community to support Indian 
students; and
    (3) Existing local policies, programs, practices, service 
providers, and funding sources.
    (c) A project design and management plan that--
    (1) Addresses one or more barriers or opportunities towards the 
goal of ensuring that Indian students are prepared for college and 
careers, as identified in the local needs assessment or other data 
analysis; and
    (2) Uses a community-based strategy (or strategies), and 
measureable objectives for that strategy (or strategies) that can be 
used to measure progress toward the goal.
    (d) A copy of an agreement signed by the partners in the proposed 
project, identifying the responsibilities of each partner in the 
project. Signatories to the agreement must include at least one tribe 
or its TEA and at least one LEA or BIE-funded school, as described in 
the absolute priority above. Letters of support do not meet the 
requirement for a signed agreement.
    (e) Evidence that the applicant or one of its partners has 
demonstrated the capacity to improve outcomes that are relevant to the 
project focus through experience with programs funded through other 
sources.
    (f) A description of how Indian tribes and parents of Indian 
children have been, and will be, involved in developing and 
implementing the proposed activities.
    (g) Information demonstrating that the proposed project is based on 
scientific research, where applicable, or an existing program that has 
been modified to be culturally appropriate for Indian students.
    (h) A description of how the applicant will continue the proposed 
activities once the grant period is over.
    Statutory Hiring Preference: (a) Awards that are primarily for the 
benefit of Indians are subject to the provisions of section 7(b) of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Pub. L. 93-
638). That section requires that, to the greatest extent feasible, a 
grantee--
    (1) Give to Indians preferences and opportunities for training and 
employment in connection with the administration of the grant; and
    (2) Give to Indian organizations and to Indian-owned economic 
enterprises, as defined in section 3 of the Indian Financing Act of 
1974 (25 U.S.C. 1452(e)), preference in the award of contracts in 
connection with the administration of the grant.
    (b) For purposes of this section, an Indian is a member of any 
federally recognized Indian tribe.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7441.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General

[[Page 10234]]

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 
84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The OMB Guidelines to Agencies on 
Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 
180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations for 
this program in 34 CFR part 263.

    Note:  The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.


    Note:  The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions 
of higher education only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: 17,400,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2017 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000-1,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $900,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 19.

    Note:  The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants for this program are 
State educational agencies; LEAs, including charter schools that are 
considered LEAs under State law; Indian tribes; Indian organizations; 
BIE-funded schools; Indian institutions (including Indian IHEs); or a 
consortium of any of these entities.
    The absolute priority for NYCP requires that an applicant be a 
member of a partnership that includes at least one tribe or its TEA and 
at least one LEA or BIE-funded school. Applications will be rejected 
that do not include at least these two types of partners.

    Note: Including as a partner an Indian organization or Indian 
IHE does not satisfy the requirement, under the absolute priority, 
of including the tribe itself as one of the partners. A tribe may 
designate another entity to apply on its behalf only if the entity 
submits as part of its application a tribal resolution authorizing 
the designation for the purpose of applying for and administering 
this Demonstration grant.

    Applicants applying as an Indian organization must demonstrate that 
the entity meets the definition of ``Indian organization'' in 34 CFR 
263.20.
    The term ``Indian institution of higher education'' means an 
accredited college or university within the United States cited in 
section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 
(7 U.S.C. 301 note), any other institution that qualifies for funding 
under the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 
1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Dine College (formerly Navajo 
Community College) authorized in the Navajo Community College 
Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 640a et seq.).
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs).
    To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following address: 
www.ed.gov/gund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html.
    To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call: ED Pubs, U.S. 
Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. 
Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), 
call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at 
its email address: [email protected].
    If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.299A.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the person or team listed under For 
Further Information Contact in section VII of this notice.
    2. a. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this competition. 
Notice of Intent to Apply: The Department will be able to review grant 
applications more efficiently if we know the approximate number of 
applicants that intend to apply. Therefore, the Assistant Secretary 
strongly encourages each potential applicant to notify us of their 
intent to submit an application for funding. To do so, please email 
[email protected] with the subject line ``Intent to Apply,'' and 
include the following information:
    1. Applicant's name, mailing address, and phone number;
    2. Contact person's name and email address;
    3. The defined local geographic area to be served by the project;
    4. Name(s) of partnering LEA(s) or BIE-funded school(s);
    5. Names of partnering tribe(s) or TEA(s); and
    6. If appropriate, names of other partnering organizations.
    Applicants that do not submit a notice of intent to apply may still 
apply for funding; applicants that do submit a notice of intent to 
apply are not bound to apply or bound by the information provided. Pre-
Application Webinar: The Department intends to hold a pre-application 
Webinar designed to provide technical assistance to interested 
applicants. Information about Webinar times and instructions for 
registering are on the Department Web site at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/indiandemo/applicant.html.
    Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, 
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your 
application. The suggested page limit for the application narrative is 
35 pages. The suggested standards for the narrative include:
     A page is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' margins 
at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space all text in the application narrative, 
including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and 
captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is 12 point or larger but no smaller than 
10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial.
    The suggested page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the 
budget section, including the budget narrative justification; the 
consortium agreement or partnership agreement; the assurances and 
certifications; or the abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or 
other required attachments.
    b. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of 
projects that may be proposed in applications for the Demonstration 
Grants for Indian Children, an application may include business 
information that the applicant considers proprietary. The Department's 
regulations define ``business information'' in 34 CFR 5.11.

[[Page 10235]]

    Because we plan to make successful applications available to the 
public, you may wish to request confidentiality of business 
information.
    Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your 
application any information that you feel is exempt from disclosure 
under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act. In the appropriate 
Appendix section of your application, under ``Other Attachment Form,'' 
please list the page number or numbers on which we can find this 
information. For additional information please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: February 29, 2016.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: April 4, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 31, 2016.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to 7. Other Submission Requirements in 
section IV of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 28, 2016.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under 
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this 
competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and System for Award Management: To do business with the 
Department of Education, you must--
    a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a 
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
    b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award 
Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry), the 
Government's primary registrant database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information 
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you 
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
    You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet at the 
following Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. A DUNS number can be 
created within one-to-two business days.
    If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or 
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. 
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal 
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a 
new TIN, please allow two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business 
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the 
completeness and accuracy of the data you enter into the SAM database. 
Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal financial 
assistance under a program administered by the Department, please allow 
sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number and TIN. We 
strongly recommend that you register early.

    Note: Once your SAM registration is active, it may be 24 to 48 
hours before you can access the information in, and submit an 
application through, Grants.gov.

    If you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to make 
any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with 
your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will need to update 
your registration annually. This may take three or more business days.
    Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further 
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in 
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov 
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, 
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the 
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an 
exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in 
this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications. Applications for grants 
under the Indian Education--Demonstration Grants for Indian Children 
program, CFDA number 84.299A, must be submitted electronically using 
the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through 
this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application 
package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your 
application. You may not email an electronic copy of a grant 
application to us.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Indian 
Education_Demonstration Grants for Indian Children program at 
www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 
package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA 
number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.299, not 
84.299A).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.

[[Page 10236]]

Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your 
application if it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the 
Grants.gov system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date. We do not consider an application that does 
not comply with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your 
application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting 
your application because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this program to ensure that you 
submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. 
You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to 
Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home 
page at www.G5.gov. In addition, for specific guidance and procedures 
for submitting an application through Grants.gov, please refer to the 
Grants.gov Web site at: www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The 
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications.
     You must upload any narrative sections and all other 
attachments to your application as files in a read-only, non-modifiable 
Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a 
password-protected file, we will not review that material. Please note 
that this could result in your application not being considered for 
funding because the material in question--for example, the project 
narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your proposal. For 
that reason it is important to allow yourself adequate time to upload 
all material as PDF files. The Department will not convert material 
from other formats to PDF.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that 
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. This notification indicates 
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department. Grants.gov 
will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all 
the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors 
(such as submission of your application by someone other than a 
registered Authorized Organization Representative, or inclusion of an 
attachment with a file name that contains special characters). You will 
be given an opportunity to correct any errors and resubmit, but you 
must still meet the deadline for submission of applications.
    Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the 
Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you 
an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application.
    These emails do not mean that your application is without any 
disqualifying errors. While your application may have been successfully 
validated by Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department's application 
requirements as specified in this notice and in the application 
instructions. Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure 
to upload attachments in a read-only, non-modifiable PDF; failure to 
submit a required part of the application; or failure to meet applicant 
eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that your 
submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements.
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues 
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting 
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov 
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a 
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
    If you are prevented from electronically submitting your 
application on the application deadline date because of technical 
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension 
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand 
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing 
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person 
listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII of this 
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you 
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk 
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a 
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that the 
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We will 
contact you after we determine whether your application will be 
accepted.

    Note:  The extensions to which we refer in this section apply 
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the 
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed 
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before 
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem 
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system; and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the

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Department, we must receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks 
before the application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: John Cheek, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3W215, 
Washington, DC 20202-6335. FAX: (202) 401-0606.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.299A) LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.

    Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated 
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your 
local post office.

    We will not consider applications postmarked after the application 
deadline date.
    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.299A), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center 
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except 
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications:  If you 
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by 
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including 
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are 
submitting your application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a 
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not 
receive this notification within 15 business days from the 
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
include general selection criteria from 34 CFR 75.210 and selection 
criteria based on regulatory requirements in 34 CFR part 263, in 
accordance with 34 CFR 75.209(a). We will award up to 100 points to an 
application under the selection criteria; the total possible points for 
each selection criterion are noted in parentheses.
    a. Need for project (Maximum 15 points). The Secretary considers 
the need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factor:
    The extent to which the project is informed by evidence, which 
could be either a needs assessment conducted within the last three 
years or other data analysis, of:
    (i) The greatest barriers both in and out of school to the 
readiness of local Indian students for college and careers;
    (ii) Opportunities in the local community to support Indian 
students; and
    (iii) Existing local policies, programs, practices, service 
providers, and funding sources.
    b. Quality of the project design (Maximum 30 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In 
determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) (Up to 3 points) The extent to which the project is focused on 
a defined local geographic area.
    (ii) (Up to 3 points) The extent to which the proposed project is 
based on scientific research, where applicable, or an existing program 
that has been modified to be culturally appropriate for Indian 
students.
    (iii) (Up to 7 points) The extent to which the goals, objectives, 
and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly 
specified and measurable.
    (iv) (Up to 10 points) The extent to which the design of the 
proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the 
needs of the target population or other identified needs.
    (v) (Up to 7 points) The extent to which the services to be 
provided by the proposed project involve the collaboration of 
appropriate partners for maximizing the effectiveness of project 
services.
    c. Quality of project personnel (Maximum 10 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability. In addition, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator.
    (ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of key project personnel.
    (iii) The extent to which the applicant, or one of its partners, 
demonstrates capacity to improve outcomes that are relevant to the 
project focus through experience with programs funded through other 
sources.

    Note:  Please note that section 7(b) of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act requires that to the 
greatest extent feasible, a grantee must give to Indians preference 
and opportunities in connection with the administration of the 
grant, and give Indian organizations and Indian-owned economic 
enterprises, as defined in section 3 of the Indian Financing Act of 
1974 (25 U.S.C. 1452(e)), preference in the award of contracts in 
connection with the administration of the grant.

    d. Adequacy of resources (Maximum 10 points). The Secretary 
considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In 
determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in 
the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.

[[Page 10238]]

    (ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to 
the number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and 
benefits.
    e. Quality of the management plan (Maximum 30 points). The 
Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) (Up to 14 points) The adequacy of the management plan to 
achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within 
budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and 
milestones for accomplishing project tasks.
    (ii) (Up to 3 points) The extent to which the methods of evaluation 
will provide performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of 
progress toward achieving intended outcomes.
    (iii) (Up to 10 points) The extent to which Indian tribes and 
parents of Indian children have been, and will be, involved in 
developing and implementing the proposed activities.
    (iv) (Up to 3 points) The extent to which the proposed project is 
designed to build capacity and yield results that will extend beyond 
the period of Federal financial assistance.
    f. Quality of the project evaluation (Maximum 5 points). The 
Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of 
the proposed project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the 
Secretary considers the following factor:
    The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about 
effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other 
settings.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this program the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
3474.10, the Secretary may impose special conditions and, in 
appropriate circumstances, high-risk conditions on a grant if the 
applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of 
unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system 
that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not 
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not 
responsible.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to 
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally, 
also.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final 
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the 
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual 
performance report that provides the most current performance and 
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance 
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    (c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee 
with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In 
this case the Secretary establishes a data collection period.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has developed the following 
performance measures for measuring the overall effectiveness of the 
Demonstration Grants for Indian Children program:
    (1) The percentage of the annual measurable objectives, as 
described in the application, that are met by grantees; and
    (2) The percentage of grantees that report a significant increase 
in community collaborative efforts that promote college and career 
readiness of Indian children.
    These measures constitute the Department's indicators of success 
for this program. Consequently, we advise an applicant for a grant 
under this program to give careful consideration to these measures in 
developing the proposed project and identifying the method of 
evaluation. Each grantee will be required to provide, in its annual 
performance and final reports, data about its progress in meeting these 
measures.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee 
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of 
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is 
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the 
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the 
performance targets in the grantee's approved application.
    In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers 
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in 
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil 
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities 
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: John Cheek, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3W215, Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 401-0274 or by email: [email protected]
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.

[[Page 10239]]

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to 
the program contact person listed under For Further Information Contact 
in section VII of this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or PDF. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat 
Reader, which is available free at the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: February 23, 2016.
Ann Whalen,
Delegated the authority to perform the functions and duties of 
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2016-04260 Filed 2-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P